Softball Game Preview: Highland Park Scots vs. Apple Valley Eagles

The Highland Park Scots will head out to challenge the Apple Valley Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

On Tuesday, Highland Park got the win against Harding by a conclusive 17-1. Considering the Scots have won four matchups by more than nine runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.

Meanwhile, Apple Valley hadn't done well against Eagan recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. The Eagles skirted past the Wildcats 7-6. The Eagles' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.

Keura Roloff made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched 3.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Those two RBI gave her a new career-high.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Olivia Duran, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Jillian Kane, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and one double.

Apple Valley's victory was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-7 and their overall record up to 2-9. As for Highland Park, the win got them back to even at 4-4.